Periodic Table for National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

Alejandro González Iñárritu is a Mexican director and producer whose movies placed him at the forefront of the Mexican film renaissance in the early 21st century.

Alfonso Cuarón is a Mexican filmmaker, known for directing films in a variety of genres. He has received 10 Academy Award nominations, winning four.

Alice Waddington is a Spanish film director, writer, photographer and costume designer. Her first feature Paradise Hills is the second Spanish debut film to ever be screened at Sundance Film Festival.

Andrés Muschietti is an Argentine filmmaker who achieved wide recognition with the film Mama. He gained further recognition for directing the film adaptation of the Stephen King novel It, which became the highest-grossing horror film of all time.

Edward James Olmos is a Los Angeles born, director, producer, and activist. He is a Tony, Emmy and Academy Award nominated actor, with a career spanning over 30 years.

Eugenio González Derbez is a Mexican actor and comedian. His feature film "Instructions Not Included" became the most successful Spanish-language film ever in the US and worldwide.

Guillermo del Toro is a Mexican filmmaker and author. He was able to parlay his childhood love of the macabre into a highly successful career as a filmmaker, making his feature debut in 1993 with Cronos.

John Leguizamo  is an American actor, comedian, producer and writer. Leguizamo is best known for his one-man stage shows and his ability to satirize a range of ethnic groups.

Julia Solomonoff is an Argentine film actress, producer, film and television director. In 2011, the Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrated her work in a special showcase of her shorts and features.

Patricia Cardoso is an award-winning director, producer and writer. She was the first Latinx woman director to have a film included in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

Tatiana Huezo is an award-winning film director of Salvadoran and Mexican nationality. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is an American Democratic Socialist who made headlines in 2018 by beating a 10-term New York Democrat incumbent in a congressional primary, before becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.

Antonia Novello made history as the first female and first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General in 1990.

Cesar Chavez employed nonviolent means to bring attention to the plight of farmworkers and formed both the National Farm Workers Association, which later became United Farm Workers.

Jorge Ramos is a Mexican-American journalist and author. Regarded as the best-known Spanish language news anchor in the United States. 

Luis Munoz Marin was the first elected governor of Puerto Rico, spearheading an administration that engineered profound economic, political and social reforms.

Nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history.

Franklin Chang-Diaz is a Costa Rican-born American physicist and the first Hispanic astronaut.

Ellen Ochoa became the world’s first Hispanic female astronaut. A mission specialist and flight engineer, Ochoa is a veteran of four space flights, logging more than 950 hours in space.

Idelisa Bonnelly is a Dominican marine biologist who is considered the "mother of marine conservation in the Caribbean". She was the founder of the study of biology in the Dominican Republic.

Luis Alvarez was an American experimental physicist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1968 for work that included the discovery of many resonance particles.

Mario Molina was a Mexican chemist. He was the first Mexican-born scientist to receive a Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the third Mexican born person to receive the Nobel award.

Valentina Munoz Rabanal is an influencer, a youth feminist activist and a digital rights advocate. In 2020, she was recognized as the youngest programmer to contribute to the construction of the Artificial Intelligence Policy in her country.

Beto Perez is a Colombian dancer, choreographer, businessman, and Zumba instructor. He created the exercise fitness program Zumba in the late 1990s.

Martha de la Torre is the CEO of El Clasificado. Founded originally as a weekly Spanish-language classified publication with her husband, Joe Badame, ElClasificado.com is now the largest Spanish language classified marketplace in the United States.

Carolina Herrera is a Venezuelan-American designer whose first fashion collection debuted in 1981, and she has since led her company to become a global brand. Today her company has stores worldwide and billions in sales.

Cristobal Balenciaga was a Spanish fashion designer, and the founder of the Balenciaga fashion house. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as "the master of us all" by Christian Dior.

Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz was inducted into the Billboard Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1994. 

Albert Pujols is a Dominican-American professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "The Machine" or "La Máquina" in Spanish, he played his first 11 seasons in MLB for the Cardinals, then played with the Los Angeles Angels for more than nine seasons before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers for half a season.

America Ferrera is an American actress known for her leading role as Betty Suarez on the American Broadcasting Company's comedy-drama television series Ugly Betty (2006).

Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who had the first all-Spanish record reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Benjamin Bratt is an American actor and producer who is best known for his role as Detective Rey Curtis on the NBC drama series Law & Order.

Mexican-American award-winning guitarist Carlos Santana is leader of Santana, a band whose music uniquely blends Latin-infused rock, jazz, blues, salsa and African rhythms.

Pro basketball star Carmelo Anthony became one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history after entering the league with the Denver Nuggets in 2003.

Cheech Marin found his calling after meeting Tommy Chong in Canada. Performing as the comedy duo Cheech and Chong, the two released a series of highly successful comedy albums in the 1970s, and became symbols of marijuana culture with the 1978 film Up in Smoke.

Danny Trejo has developed a prolific career in the industry with a hard-earned and atypical road to success. From years of imprisonment to helping troubled youth battle drug addictions, from acting to producing, and now on to restaurant ventures.

Dara Torres is an American former competitive swimmer, who is a 12-time Olympic medalist and former world record-holder in three events. Torres is the first swimmer to represent the United States in five Olympic Games and at age 41, the oldest swimmer to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team.

Eva Longoria was a beauty pageant contestant in her youth. Her breakthrough role came in 2004 as Gabrielle Solis on the hit television series Desperate Housewives.

George Lopez is an American comedian, actor, and talk show host known for his effusive stage persona and comically bleak depictions of the Mexican American experience.

Gina Rodriguez is an American actress who is best known for her titular role on the hit TV show 'Jane the Virgin,' for which she won a Golden Globe in 2015.

Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-American superstar who fronted the band Miami Sound Machine and topped the charts in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jennifer Lopez is an American actress and musician who began appearing in films in the late 1980s and quickly became one of the highest-paid Latina actresses in the history of Hollywood.

Jim Plunkett is a former NFL quarterback who achieved his success playing 10 seasons for the Oakland Raiders, leading them to two Super Bowl victories. He was the first minority quarterback to win the Super Bowl and remains the only Hispanic to be named Super Bowl MVP.

Jimmy Smits is an American actor OF Puerto Rican descent best known for his roles in L.A. Law, NYPD, NYPD Blue, The West Wing & Sons of Anarchy.

Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional football player who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team. Often considered the best player in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and in 2020 was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team.

Manu Ginóbili is an Argentine former professional basketball player. Over a 23-year professional career, he became one of only two players to have won a EuroLeague title, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. A four-time NBA champion, Ginóbili was a member of the San Antonio Spurs for his entire 16-year NBA career.

Mariano Rivera, nicknamed “Mo” & “Sandman”, was a  Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees.

Mario Lopez is an American actor and television host. He has appeared on several television series, in films, and on Broadway. He is known for his portrayal of A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell.

Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer who is best known for winning bouts in six different weight classes, and for his popular televised fights.

Guatemalan-American actor Oscar Isaac has swung between noble and damaged characters in films like 'Inside Llewyn Davis' and 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' as well as in miniseries like 'Show Me a Hero' and 'Scenes from a Marriage.'

Pitbull, is an American rapper and businessman who began his career in the early 2000s, recording reggaeton, Latin hip hop, and crunk music under a multitude of labels.

American basketball player who was one of the original stars of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Ricky Martin is a pop singer, former member of Menudo as a teenager and later exploded onto the pop charts as a solo artist with "Livin' La Vida Loca" and "She Bangs."

Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican-born American actress, dancer, and singer who accomplished the rare feat of winning the four major North American entertainment awards: Emmy (1977, 1978), Grammy (1972), Oscar (1962), and Tony (1975). She was also the first Hispanic woman to receive an Oscar.

Mexican American musician Ritchie Valens is best known for his hit "La Bamba." His successful career was cut short when he died in a plane crash at age 17.

American swimmer who was one of the sport’s most successful Olympians. His 12 medals, 6 of which were gold, made him the second most-decorated male swimmer in Olympic history, behind teammate Michael Phelps.

Known as the 'Queen of Tejano Music,' Selena Quintanilla was a beloved Latin recording artist who was killed by the president of her fan club at the age of 23.

Shakira is a Colombian musician who achieved success in both Spanish- and English-speaking markets and by the early 2000s was one of the most successful Latin American recording artists.

Colombian American actress who was perhaps best known for her work on the television show Modern Family (2009–20).

American professional baseball player who compiled a lifetime batting average of .344 as an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960. He was the last player to hit .400 in Major League Baseball (.406 in 1941).

Tony Gonzalez is a former American football tight end who played in the NFL for 17 seasons. Regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, he is the NFL leader in tight end receiving yards and receptions, along with ranking third in overall receptions.

Tony Romo is an American professional gridiron football player who emerged as one of the leading quarterbacks in the National Football League (NFL) in the early 21st century.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American actor, composer, lyricist, and writer who created and starred in stage productions that blended modern musical forms with classic musical theatre. Best-known for his work in Hamilton, a hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton.

Dolores Huerta is an activist and labor leader who co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers.

Gabriela Mistral was a Chilean poet-diplomat, educator and humanist. In 1945 she became the first Latin American author to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature, for her lyric poetry which, inspired by powerful emotions, has made her name a symbol of the idealistic aspirations of the entire Latin American world.

Guy Gabaldon was a United States Marine who, at age 18, captured or persuaded to surrender over 1,300 Japanese soldiers and civilians during World War II. Though Gabaldon was recommended for the Medal of Honor, he received the Silver Star, which was upgraded by the Marine Corps to the Navy Cross in 1960.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is a politician and lobbyist from Miami, Florida, who represented Florida's 27th congressional district from 1989 to 2019. In 1989, Ros-Lehtinen won a special election and became the first Cuban American elected to Congress.

Jose Andres is a Spanish chef, and founder of World Central Kitchen, a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. A Spanish-born and raised cook, he is often credited with bringing the small plates dining concept to America.

Jovita Idar was an American journalist, teacher, political activist, and civil rights worker who championed the cause of Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants.

Maria Elena Salinas is a Spanish-language news anchor and journalist. She was previously a co-anchor of Univision's nightly newscast, Noticiero Univision, and the news magazine, Aquí y Ahora. According to Univision, Salinas is the "most recognized Hispanic journalist in the United States."

Octaviano Larrazolo was a Republican politician who served as the fourth governor of New Mexico and a United States senator. He was the first Mexican-American and first Latino United States senator.

Richard Cavazos was a United States Army four-star general. He was a Korean War recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross as a first lieutenant and advanced in rank to become the United States Army's first Hispanic four-star general.

Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente became the first Latin American player to collect 3,000 career hits before his death in a plane crash.

Sylvia Mendez is an American civil rights activist of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage. At age 8, she played an instrumental role in the Mendez v. Westminster case, the landmark desegregation case of 1946. The case successfully ended de jure segregation in California and paved the way for integration and the American civil rights movement.
 

Sylvia Rivera was a Latina-American drag queen who was a gay and transgender activist in the 1960s and 70s. She's known for participating in the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and establishing the political organization STAR.

Cristina Henríquez is an American author best known for her 2014 novel The Book of Unknown Americans.
 

Erika L. Sanchez is an American poet and writer. She is the author of poetry collection Lessons on Expulsion and a young adult novel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, a 2017 finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. She is a professor at DePaul University.

Esmeralda Santiago is a Puerto-Rican author known for her narrative memoirs and trans-cultural writing. Her impact extends beyond cultivating narratives as she paves the way for more coming-of-age stories about being a Latina in the United States, alongside navigating cultural dissonance through acculturation.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist. Considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, particularly in the Spanish language, he was awarded the 1972 Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Julia Alvarez is a poet and novelist who is known for novels such as 'How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents' and 'In the Time of the Butterflies'.

Julia de Burgos was a Puerto Rican poet. As an advocate of Puerto Rican independence, she served as Secretary General of the Daughters of Freedom, the women's branch of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. She was also a civil rights activist for women and African/Afro-Caribbean writers.

Julio Cortazar was an Argentine-French novelist, short story writer, essayist, and translator. Known as one of the founders of the Latin American Boom, Cortázar influenced an entire generation of Spanish-speaking readers and writers in America and Europe.

Mario Vargas Llosa is a Peruvian novelist, journalist, essayist, and a former politician, who also holds Spanish citizenship. Vargas Llosa is one of Latin America's most significant novelists and essayists, and one of the leading writers of his generation.

Pablo Neruda was a Nobel Prize–winning Chilean poet who was once called "the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language."

Chilean author who was one of the leading South American literary figures at the turn of the 21st century.

Sandra Cisneros is a Latina American novelist who wrote the bestselling novel 'The House on Mango Street.'

Chilean author Isabel Allende is renowned for writing international bestsellers including 'The House of Spirits,' 'City of the Beasts,' 'Inés of My Soul' and 'Paula.'

Octavio Paz was a Mexican poet and diplomat. For his body of work, he was awarded the 1977 Jerusalem Prize, the 1981 Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the 1982 Neustadt International Prize for Literature, and the 1990 Nobel Prize in Literature.